Robert Weiner

MARCH 17, 2013

I've redacted the message to anonymize the vendor: Dear _, I thought you might be interested in a recent analysis of low cost fundraising software, conducted jointly by independent organizations Idealware and N-TEN. Bottom line – (our software) received more “Excellent” ratings than any of the over 33 products reviewed!

Rate 138

Rate Database Donor Analysis 138

Robert Weiner

SEPTEMBER 21, 2009

The Nonprofit Times recently published an article called Is It Donor Management Software Or Business Intelligence. " This vision of donor management software is nothing new. This lack of analytic tools often drives nonprofits to look for new donor management software.

Track 112

Track Business Donor Database 112

Robert Weiner

MARCH 21, 2017

Idealware just released the latest version of their Consumers Guide to Low-Cost Donor Management Systems. It will give you an overview of 32 systems and in-depth reviews of their top 11 “best value” choices.

System 100

System Guide Donor Management 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 11, 2009

I thought it might be useful to compile a list of all of the commercial donor databases I’m aware of. This list came from my head, my bookmarks, and lists compiled by NTEN and Idealware for their donor management software surveys (and I’m not certain all of these are actually donor databases). Donor Quest.

Database 100

Database Donor Kintera Oracle 100

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 10, 2010

Unlike their earlier guides (to inexpensive donor databases, content management systems, online donation tools, etc.) They describe it as follows: What types of software should your nonprofit be using? Idealware recently released its Fundraising, Communications and Outreach. You can get more information and order a copy on their site.

Software 100

Software Guide Communication Fundraising 100

Robert Weiner

MARCH 4, 2013

Last year the big news in my industry was Blackbaud's acquisition of Convio and the merger/acquisition of Datatel and Sungard Higher Education (now called Ellucian). 2013 is off to a bang with Accel-KKR's acquisition of Sage's Nonprofit Solutions Group and iModules acquisition of Harris Connect.

Software 122

Software Convio Press Blackbaud 122

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 5, 2009

Marketing research firm Campbell Rinker has published the results of its latest survey of donor and member management software. Of the 841 respondents, 27% would NOT recommend their current systems to a comparable organization, 26% were unsure, and 47% would give a positive recommendation.

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Survey Results Database Donor 100

Robert Weiner

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

This could undermine nonprofits’ willingness to use cloud-based (aka Software as a Service or SaaS) databases. As I mentioned in my previous post about Common Ground , even though Blackbaud announced in 2006 that it was killing GiftMaker Pro (GMP), since the software ran on clients’ own servers it’s still in use.

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Blackbaud Convio Database Statistics 171

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 1, 2011

Idealware is updating its 2009 report on low-cost donor databases.

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Report Product Donor Database 122

Robert Weiner

JUNE 9, 2010

Jay Love, the founder and CEO of eTapestry (and before that, of Master Software), is leaving Blackbaud to become CEO of Social Solutions: [link]. Tags: Donor Databases. I spoke with Jay yesterday and he says that Blackbaud is committed to etapestry and will continue to invest in the product. Time will tell.

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Blackbaud Database Software Product 112

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 27, 2012

Idealware’s Consumer’s Guide to Low Cost Donor Management Systems reviewed 30 systems, the majority of which don’t come from Convio or Blackbaud. I’ve also been compiling a list of every donor database I come across at https://socialsourcecommons.org/toolbox/show/1661. Software alone seldom gets the job done.

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Blackbaud Convio Open Source Product 222

Robert Weiner

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

The NonProfit Times ran the story The Evolution of Donor Management And Its Fundraising Future , which deals with how technology is transforming the way nonprofits interact with donors, particularly online. I was interviewed for two articles that were published recently. And the Chronicle of Philanthropy ran 'But It's Free!'

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News Interview Philanthropy Interaction 100

Robert Weiner

DECEMBER 21, 2012

Test the computers and software in the classroom before every training. You'll get new staff, staff will need to learn new things over time, and there will be new software releases. If you're training a lot of people, try to train in a classroom setting so everyone hears the same thing. Training is not a one-time event.

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Database Training Train Classroom 166

Robert Weiner

AUGUST 30, 2012

Today the news is that Blackbaud is killing off Common Ground , one of the two donor management products (aka CRMs or Constituent Relationship Management systems) that they acquired from Convio. In what was said to be an unrelated development, they also announced the departure of Gene Austin, the former CEO of Convio.

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Blackbaud Convio Database Austin 264

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 9, 2015

Our board member, donor, or funder said to do or buy __. Are you trying to solve a lack of strategy or broken processes by throwing software at the problem? Or “Our VISTA/New Sector volunteer is really smart. She’ll figure this out!”. Let’s get this tool. It worked great at my last (completely dissimilar) organization. Drop everything.

Problem 100

Problem Technology NTC System 100

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 9, 2015

As such, current and new clients are guaranteed access to ongoing software updates, training and support, and enhanced features. Push-to-sync online donations: sync donors and donations with CRM in a single click. Process recurring donations based on donors'' schedule of giving.

Change 100

Change Database Module Hosting 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 5, 2010

These are the people who need to determine whether a contribution can be counted as a gift, which fund it should go to, who is the legal donor, whether it's tax deductible and who gets tax credit, whether accepting it violates any federal, state,or organization rules, who should be notified of the gift's arrival, etc. Play well with others.

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Service Policy Law System 171

Robert Weiner

MAY 4, 2012

The Department of Justice signed off on Blackbaud's acquisition of Convio last week, and it looks like the deal will close this week. This is just the beginning of the story. I expect that it will take at least several months, and probably several years, before the dust settles and we know what's left behind.

Blackbaud 122

Blackbaud Convio Story Support 122

Robert Weiner

MAY 7, 2012

Blackbaud completed its purchase of Convio. The next adventure starts today, as we wait to see what the future holds for their various systems.

Convio 138

Convio Blackbaud System Database 138